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Kilmore businesses say holiday will cost them

Kilmore businesses are overwhelmingly opposed to the introduction of Labor’s AFL grand final parade public holiday, a new survey has found.

The survey, circulated by Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan shows the holiday will be costly for local businesses.

In Question Time during Parliament this week, Ms Ryan asked the Industry Minister Lily D’Ambrosio what advice the government had been given regarding the impact of the new public holidays on small business in regional Victoria.

Ms Ryan said the Minister had dismissed concerns from local small business.

“The Minister has trivialised the massive cost these holidays will have on our small businesses in the Euroa electorate,” Ms Ryan said.

“The Grand Final Eve holiday is a day which no one has asked for but everyone is going to pay for.

“The government’s own regulatory impact statement shows this holiday – along with the public holiday on Easter Sunday – will cost Victorians $1.2 billion and 353,000 casual workers their shifts.”

Ms Ryan said she had been circulating a survey to find out how the holiday would affect local businesses.

“The responses from Kilmore businesses have sent a very clear message that the vast majority of people see this as a ludicrous decision,” Ms Ryan said.

“The Blue Dragonfly Café in Kilmore employs 12 staff, including 6 casuals who will lose their shifts on the day because the café cannot afford to open.

“Owner Tracey Weber-Hansen told me the proposed holiday was a major blow to local small business and certainly not in the state’s best interests.

“Vikki Nemeth from Broadford will be working on the day and had booked her son into vacation care as it is school holidays.

“However the facility has been forced to close its doors on the day so now Vikki must make other arrangements.”

Ms Ryan said she had made this feedback known to the government, raising the matter in Parliament several times in recent weeks.

“While some permanent staff will no doubt enjoy a day off, the parade day holiday will leave most people in our area out of pocket,” Ms Ryan said.